The community is encouraged to participate in the activities surrounding the Lady Steers' departure for the state UIL state volleyball championship tournament in Garland on Wednesday.

A pep rally is slated for 9:35 a.m. Wednesday, then at about 10 a.m., the Lady Steers will board the bus and be escorted out of town by local law enforcement.

The planned route will begin on the west side of the high school, then south on Goliad to 24th, then west on 24th to Gregg, then to I-20.

School officials and volleyball players and parents hope area residents will line up along Gregg Street to wave, honk horns or do whatever they wish to show support for the Lady Steers â€” the first BSHS volleyball team to earn a state championship bid since 1977.

Big Spring (32-13) will practice Thursday at a venue in Garland, with the opening round set for Friday at 1 p.m. against Decatur (39-7).

If the Lady Steers win, they will face Bellville or College Station for the state title.